469/669 Grips on 3913/3914/3953 Pistols (with pictures)

JohnHL · #1 10-21-2018, 07:32 PM

I expect most of you remember this thinned down 3914:

469/669 Grips on 3913/3914/3953 Pistols (with pictures)-3914-ackstrap-mod-001-jpg

Here are some pics of the modified 469/669 backstrap (Unmodified with "Grip Retainer Spring" on left; Thinned backstrap in center; Unmodified backstrap without "Grip Retainer Spring" on right; My fabricated, substitute "Grip Retainer Spring" below center):

469/669 Grips on 3913/3914/3953 Pistols (with pictures)-3914-ackstrap-mod-003-jpg

469/669 Grips on 3913/3914/3953 Pistols (with pictures)-3914-ackstrap-mod-003-jpg

Same from inside:

469/669 Grips on 3913/3914/3953 Pistols (with pictures)-3914-ackstrap-mod-005-jpg

Modified "Grip Retainer Spring" in position in modified backstrap:

469/669 Grips on 3913/3914/3953 Pistols (with pictures)-3914-ackstrap-mod-008-jpg

The modified "Grip Retainer Spring" I fashioned from some thin, springy scrap I had in a small salvage drawer.

I removed roughly equal amounts of material from either side of the backstrap with a hacksaw and sandpaper (High Tech!) until it was the same width as the 3914.
I then fashioned a small crescent shaped piece of plastic and glued it to the top of the backstrap to tuck it tighter to the grip frame.

The grip side panels required no modification.

I used a 39/39-2/439/539/639 grip pin to attach it to the frame.

Anybody who wishes to copy, build, or improve on this design has my welcome and blessings.

I will be delighted to see how you crafty members run with this.

John

squidsix · #2 10-21-2018, 08:12 PM

My kind of work. Nicely done!

JohnHL · #3 10-21-2018, 08:23 PM

Thanks!

Nuttin' fancy.

John

MidWesternBoy · #4 10-22-2018, 07:30 AM

Excellent! Thanks sharing this.

JohnHL · #5 10-24-2018, 01:17 AM

My pleasure.

Enjoy!

John

TercGen · #6 10-30-2018, 05:09 PM

(From a recent thread, replied to here)

Quote:

Originally Posted by JohnHL

Not to thread drift here, TG, but I thought you would be the craftsman to improve upon the modification of the 4/669 grips and back strap to fit the 3913/4 sized pistols.

Anything happening in the laboratory?

John?

Hi John,

While I do like to tinker with my S&W 3rd Gens, especially the Chiefs Special grips, I have to say that I've never personally been interested in adapting a 2nd Gen back strap to my 3rd Gens. I definitely appreciate the ingenuity involved in your adaptation, but it's just that I really like the Delrin grips and the current 3rd Gen grip angle on my guns.

I think that if I ever were to venture into this arena, it would be to have a new straight back strap designed and machined that would replicate the current 3913 grip angle, then either modify 2nd Gen grip panels or create new ones to add to them. But I honestly doubt that will ever happen, as I really like the Delrins and their ability to wear grip tape so well.

Now, if someone else were to do this, maybe with a CNC background, I would be an interested customer for sure!

In the meantime, I really do appreciate what you've done with your 3914 here John. It does look like a very slim and personalized gun!

Erich · #7 10-31-2018, 09:47 AM

Wow, isn't that nifty?!